The CB Radio Talk Forum

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The CB Radio Talk Forum

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Just wondering if anyone owns and uses a Sears Roadtalker CB Radio, or even some of their previous Sears CB radios ? Many of them seem to be of really good quality, like some of the best---straight out of Japan. Some of them are SSB sideband radios also! Recently I saw a pair of 10-Meter Sears Roadtalker 40's at auction on Ebay this past week, modified of course for 10M but cool. Anyone have and use one, or did have one ?

There is a beautiful mobile version of the radio (sometimes called "The Sears Roadtalker Slant Face" at auction right now on Ebay and am hopefully buying it, new unused in the box with all unopened accessories. I placed a pretty high bid on it----yet really only the price of a new "made-in-china" Cobra, so I consider it a deal. You could never get such a quality radio as this, for merely the price of a standard-issue run-of-the-mill Cobra 29 anyway. In my opinion, the radio is not only better----and is an AM-SSB radio----but with a built in AC power supply to boot! Dual AC and DC use built-in on a mobile radio is unheard of today, it is a base radio and mobile radio combined. Having this capability completely eliminates the need for (and cost of) a separate DC power supply and all the extra wiring etc, if you simply and easily want to run a mobile radio at home as a base radio. These radios have really awesome recieve.

I see a number of these Sears Roadtalkers AM-SSB radios come up at auction sometimes-----but few are in really decent condition, most have the case cover veneer peeling, 95% of them are missing one or both of the RARE separate DC and AC power cords, that's for sure. (Tip: a few JC Penny SSB radios also supposedly used the same exact odd 6-pin power cord plug). Of all the Roadtalker mobiles, I think that the Slant Faced Roadtalker 40 versions look the best. And I will say they are much better looking in-person than they appear in photos. A heavy and solid radio with tight, precise quality function control knobs, very much like the old Philippine Cobras had.

For anyone particularly buying a slant faced Sears Roadtalker 40, there are two versions that look nearly identical in photos, but one is AM and one is AM/SSB. The SSB radio is about 3-inches longer than the AM-only version, yet look the same at a quick glance or distance-shot photo. Still, both models are excellent radios. To be perfectly honest, I bought an AM-only version "by accident" (or stupid mistake, intending to buy a SSB) this year by hastily clicking "bid", without looking at it hard to notice the difference. I should've looked for not only the "extra" SSB knob---but also (tip!) the 4 rubber bumper "feet" on the underside that only the SSB radio has. But the AM version I ended up with is an excellent radio---period. There are two versions of this radio listed as follows:

Now there are some other versions of the Sears Roadtalker also, like their base console units, of which there are also a couple different models. In the end, it is often rumored that the Sears Roadtalkers were made by either Dynascan Cobra or by Linear Systems Side Band Engineers SBE for Sears and Roebuck. Who knows ? Maybe they were. Everyone says they were great on sideband, which would make me lean towards SBE as the maker a little. What have you heard ?

Well does any of our members use a Roadtalker ? Or have you owned one or listened to a buddy who's talked on it to you ? What was or is your opinion ? Who have you heard produced this fine radio for Sears ?

Excellent radio and were easily modified for uppers and lowers. The Fine tune control for SSB didn't slide very far in between channels but
that was no biggie. Had several locals get busted with them on channel 91 by FCC way back over on the kansas side of town

Its not a real radio unless it has tubes and USB/LSB on the front panel ....

Foxhunter wrote:Just wondering if anyone owns and uses a Sears Roadtalker CB Radio, or even some of their previous Sears CB radios ? Many of them seem to be of really good quality, like some of the best---straight out of Japan. Some of them are SSB sideband radios also! Recently I saw a pair of 10-Meter Sears Roadtalker 40's at auction on Ebay this past week, modified of course for 10M but cool. Anyone have and use one, or did have one ?

There is a beautiful mobile version of the radio (sometimes called "The Sears Roadtalker Slant Face" at auction right now on Ebay and am hopefully buying it, new unused in the box with all unopened accessories. I placed a pretty high bid on it----yet really only the price of a new "made-in-china" Cobra, so I consider it a deal. You could never get such a quality radio as this, for merely the price of a standard-issue run-of-the-mill Cobra 29 anyway. In my opinion, the radio is not only better----and is an AM-SSB radio----but with a built in AC power supply to boot! Dual AC and DC use built-in on a mobile radio is unheard of today, it is a base radio and mobile radio combined. Having this capability completely eliminates the need for (and cost of) a separate DC power supply and all the extra wiring etc, if you simply and easily want to run a mobile radio at home as a base radio. These radios have really awesome recieve.

I see a number of these Sears Roadtalkers AM-SSB radios come up at auction sometimes-----but few are in really decent condition, most have the case cover veneer peeling, 95% of them are missing one or both of the RARE separate DC and AC power cords, that's for sure. (Tip: a few JC Penny SSB radios also supposedly used the same exact odd 6-pin power cord plug). Of all the Roadtalker mobiles, I think that the Slant Faced Roadtalker 40 versions look the best. And I will say they are much better looking in-person than they appear in photos. A heavy and solid radio with tight, precise quality function control knobs, very much like the old Philippine Cobras had.

For anyone particularly buying a slant faced Sears Roadtalker 40, there are two versions that look nearly identical in photos, but one is AM and one is AM/SSB. The SSB radio is about 3-inches longer than the AM-only version, yet look the same at a quick glance or distance-shot photo. Still, both models are excellent radios. To be perfectly honest, I bought an AM-only version "by accident" (or stupid mistake, intending to buy a SSB) this year by hastily clicking "bid", without looking at it hard to notice the difference. I should've looked for not only the "extra" SSB knob---but also (tip!) the 4 rubber bumper "feet" on the underside that only the SSB radio has. But the AM version I ended up with is an excellent radio---period. There are two versions of this radio listed as follows:

Now there are some other versions of the Sears Roadtalker also, like their base console units, of which there are also a couple different models. In the end, it is often rumored that the Sears Roadtalkers were made by either Dynascan Cobra or by Linear Systems Side Band Engineers SBE for Sears and Roebuck. Who knows ? Maybe they were. Everyone says they were great on sideband, which would make me lean towards SBE as the maker a little. What have you heard ?

Well does any of our members use a Roadtalker ? Or have you owned one or listened to a buddy who's talked on it to you ? What was or is your opinion ? Who have you heard produced this fine radio for Sears ?

Foxhunter 351 NJ

Someone told me that some were made in japan by Hatichi(spelling), anyone know/heard this ?

executioner wrote:
Someone told me that some were made in japan by Hatichi(spelling), anyone know/heard this ?

I don't know if they were made by Hitachi (correct spelling) but I was surprised to find at least 5 Hitachi CB radios were even made (see link below). I'd really like to know who made the various Sears Roadtalker versions for Sears and Roebuck.

Well mistake or not, naturally went ahead and posted this thread before the auction ends on the one radio for sale, but I have a "hefty one" ready to go against it so we'll see. But anyway despite that "glitch" in potential bidders plans (lol) I'll check the outcome on it later. It is a nice nice radio though, virgin.

Pony, that's what I repeatedly hear (when sifting through the other countless piles of otherwise useless web information) how well they are made, have excellent audio and receive, modifiable for frequencies, and very good on sideband. JJD, it is a good radio (really both versions are) and yes---the AM/SSB version particularly is VERY heavy. But it's a good solid, heavy-duty and well-built radio. In a true mobile installation, that baby better be mounted securely---I wouldn't want that thing sailing into a passenger or something.

Buyer Tip:
One more word (useful tips) about those blasted and accursed Sears Roadtalker power cords I forgot to mention, for any members who are potential buyers. The Sears Roadtalker 40 AM-only version takes a completely different (and much simpler) power cord than does the Sears Roadtalker AM/SSB version-----because the AM-only version is DC-only. The Roadtalker 40 AM/SSB takes that really odd hard-to-find Roadtalker 6-prong power cord because it is both AC/DC. Also, the AC/DC Roadtalker 40 AM/SSB version shares the same identical power cord with the older Sears SSB 23 CB two-way radio. I wrote alot of this because there is so little online about them, in this thread here is probably more information than you might find anywhere else (if you do find more, let me know!). Hope it helps.

I have here two AM-only versions and one SSB version. My 2nd AM-only Roadtalker I just bought at a car show two weeks ago for $5!

The Sears Roadtalker 40 AM/SSB I now own was Woody's personal radio (of Woody's CB Gazette) that I bought a few months ago. I bought many things from him/them/her, not knowing the full story of what was going on. So I do have a good number of items from Woody's personal collection (considering how big it was though, really only a fraction).

I just took apart a big screen TV, so please ignore the background TV cabinet sections etc.

Top view size comparison of an AM-only Roadtalker 40 and a longer AM/SSB Roadtalker 40.

I can vouch that Sears and Realistic made (or had made for them) some real quality CB radios. I also hear that JC Penny and Montgomery Ward also produced a few good units, but I've never owned any of them.

Still, with it being a Sears Roadtalker thread, anyone else own or did own one ? How about their base units ?

Especially important: Does anyone know who made the Sears Roadtalker CB radios ???

Used to have one, can't really remember what possessed me to let it go. I was looking at a mint one on eBay about a year ago, never did bid on it because in the first day of the auction 2 bidders ran it up to over $300.00! I got so disgusted that i took it out of my watch list and never checked to see what it sold for.

Mine was a solid radio and had good audio on both transmit an receive.

Radio: The Original Wireless Communication.
Exellence is Expected.
Perfection will be Tolerated.
We must all Agree to Disagree Agreeably.

It's true they really are decent radios, I have yet to put some full time regular use on any of mine though but will. The one (yet untested) AM version I just bought at that car show has that loose channel selector knob that needs to be tightened then I'll check it out. Maybe it was a mistake, linking to the radio I was admiring on Ebay (and actually bidding on) but still hope it went to a good home there for whoever got it. I had a sizeable bid on it plus a last second sneak but cancelled it due to finding something else I already didn't own yet! I'll post that NEW VINTAGE UNOPENED IN THE BOX find on the "What have you recently acquired for new radio gear?"thread. Even still, boy I hated to let that Sears go.

That one that Pro151 was talking about was crazy. $300! Still, I'll bet the original cost of the radio in "yesterday's dollars" probably rivals close to $300 in todays dollars.

From everything I can remember, that particular radio sold by Sears was made by Pearce Simpson...But like everything else sold by Sears, I'm sure they had several different manufactures that sold radios under the Sears name...

Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

super20dan wrote:i have 3 of these and they are made by toshiba in japan. execellent radios . 1 is ssb and 2 is am only and 3 is am but nib! never been opened! these are truly hidden gems of the old school cb radios

Hey there super20dan, where is it you've found or read they were made by Toshiba ? I see JJD has heard they may've been made by Gladding Corp. Pearce Simpson. Another member says he possibly thought they were made by Hitachi (Toshiba and Hitachi are both good electronics manufacturers). But, my question is, where did you find that information ? Is it marked as such in one of the instruction manuals you have of the radio(s) ?

Now to anyone generally interested, I've also read around where the Sears RoadTalker 40 AM/SSB has the Uniden 858 chip, but I don't physically see it. And it might just be another rumor, I don't know. I just went down and took my Roadtalker 40 AM/SSB apart, and don't see the Uniden 858 anywhere. I was just looking at one the other day inside my Realistic Navaho TRC-458 base radio, and they are pretty easy to locate. But, there are some silver metal square/rectangular housings inside the Sears Roadtalker 40, covering up 3 areas of the board, and I guess it could be under one of them. I kinda peeked through the adjustment holes in them and didn't see a chip under any of them, but it's hard to see and I wasn't sure how to remove them without harming something------and besides, it's very late at nearly 4:00am "the witching hour" on Halloween yet, so don't want any late-night bad luck with my sideband Sears CB.

Now it figures CBTricks has nothing for information about the Sears CB radios----except----it lists them as "Sears/Silvertone". Hmmm, "Silvertone".

Silvertone was the brand name used by Sears for their line of musical instruments and sound equipment from the 1930s to 1972. Replacing the "Supertone" brand, "Silvertone" had already been the brand on Sears' radios and phonographs since 1915

Now since these are 40-channel radios we're talking about, they've got to be at least circa 1976-77, after the step from 23 channels to 40 channels. And, if the above article I quoted from and linked to is correct, then Silvertone stopped making Sears electronics before the Sears Roadtalkers came out.

Here is another interesting trivia, in case anyone else has been curious about what other companies made CB radios for Sears. I was reading a little earlier tonight that the well-known Amateur radio manufacturer Hallicrafters made some Citizens Band CB radios for Sears. But, once again, it was some of Sears earlier CB radio models like the Sears/Hallicrafters "Allstate" CB radio that was made by Hallicrafters, and Hallicrafters did not make the later 40-channel versions we are discussing above in the thread. I'm well aware that Hallicrafters also made their own CB radios and CB walkie-talkies, as I've bid on some of them in the recent past. Anyway here is a quote and the link.

CITIZENS BAND
Perhaps of limited interest is Citizens Band equipment. However, the book does not overlook Hallicrafters production of this equipment during the period from 1959 to 1967. Did you know that Hallicrafters built CB radios for Sears?

I'm really hoping to get original Sears RoadTalker 40 AM & AM/SSB owner's manuals for both versions of my radios when I get the chance, maybe it's listed within somewhere. If anyone that owns a Sears RoadTalker product manual, please review the manufacturing information listed and see/confirm who made them for Sears----and write/post the exact manufacturer data here on the CBRT Sears RoadTalker thread, so that others can find it. Honestly, I've wondered for a very long time. There are even Hams on the Ham forums saying this was a well-built radio with high-quality parts. After taking my upper and lower radio cases off tonight, I'd almost have to agree. It's one jam-packed radio chassis in there, and has anyone ever seen so many large caps !? And on the internet, there is some things written about these radios, scattered here and there. Nothing substantial or backed up with data of any kind or reference links. But almost all of what I've found is in miscellaneous radio chat forums, with absolutley no website links to verify what they are saying is true. I've already read nearly a dozen posts that were absolutely wrong about the Sears CB's, but the people posting were stating what they "heard", as fact.

If anybody ever finds out anything concrete on any of these FINE radios, please let us know. I personally would also appreciate the good information.

Well superdan I believe you and that the tech you were talking about also honestly thought these Sears RoadTalkers were Toshiba's. And it certainly isn't the first time I've read while searching online, where other people posted this also. The problem is, is that it can't be verified in any way with actual links to a database or information page anywhere. I'm really interested though in what people come up with. What does your user/instruction manual say about the radio ?

Bleearg wrote:That 934 prefix in the model number is the code for the manufacturer source. 934 Hitachi

Now this post here makes a good valid point. Looking at the site on the link provided also backs up the Hitachi claim a little more. The Hitachi Sears numerical prefix designator "934" is a really good clue. And it actually further bolsters something I read while trying to research the origins of this radio recently. The oddball Sears Roadtalker 6-pin power cord that I was talking about earlier ? I see where it is listed somewhere (at a site I can't link to) as a Sears RoadTalker "Hitachi" power cord plug. Hmmm. . . that's really interesting. Maybe they were made by Hitachi, it's looking quite possible.

Foxhunter wrote:Now this post here makes a good valid point. Looking at the site on the link provided also backs up the Hitachi claim a little more. The Hitachi Sears numerical prefix designator "934" is a really good clue. And it actually further bolsters something I read while trying to research the origins of this radio recently. The oddball Sears Roadtalker 6-pin power cord that I was talking about earlier ? I see where it is listed somewhere (at a site I can't link to) as a Sears RoadTalker "Hitachi" power cord plug. Hmmm. . . that's really interesting. Maybe they were made by Hitachi, it's looking quite possible.

Foxhunter 351 NJ

The talk about the 6 pin cord enticed me to find this old sears 12" black and white tv I had when I was a kid. It was tri power 120 volt, 12 volt through cigarette lighter or with rechargeable batteries. The plug looks like those but it is a 5 pin. Manufacture date 2/1976. Model #562.50332500. 562 = Toshiba
It also says MADE IN KOREA

i have the sears roadtalker 40 mobile,it belonged to N6AOV i think Bernie is in vegas now if he is still alive,
he converted it to 10 and 11 meters,a realistic 5 pin mike will work with it,
i havent used it in years, no freq counter so you are shooting blind on the freq.
i remember it was a good talker,,i might just get it out and fire it up one of these days.

grandpaclint wrote:i have the sears roadtalker 40 mobile,it belonged to N6AOV i think Bernie is in vegas now if he is still alive,
he converted it to 10 and 11 meters,a realistic 5 pin mike will work with it,
i havent used it in years, no freq counter so you are shooting blind on the freq.
i remember it was a good talker,,i might just get it out and fire it up one of these days.

just FYI

Clint

I wanted to say welcome to the CBRT Forum to you grandpaclint, I was just reading these posts here now. Checking the current callsign database, yes N6AOV he's an Advanced Class living out there in Las Vegas. Heh, I tend to like buying things from Advanced Class licensee's, they often tend to know what they're doing when it comes to modifications repairs etc. It's true the Sears Roadtalker shares the same type 5-pin DIN mic jack as some of the Realistic and other Cybernet radio chassis units (hmmm is the Roadtalker another Cybernet made radio?). Similar looking 5-pin DIN jacks were found on some older Cobra's and President radios, but the wiring pattern was different that the Sears/Realistic radios.

I appreciate you and everyone else writing here in the thread about these fine radios. Grandpaclint if I were you I'd go out and sit that radio down on the table some Saturday morning, give it a nice cleaning and plug it in and let it warm up for a while (since it's sat so long). Then see how she still works, I know I would!

For the most part there's no doubt I'd want to use a counter with ANY extra channel modified radio, almost no exceptions. Many of the extra channel mods don't leave them sequential and they tend to skip around sometimes. Like you said sort of, you'd be flying blind. Overall a counter is one useful radio accessory and one I'd hate to do without. I'd like to find how far above and below this radio can be modified, out of curiousity. I posted earlier that there was a pair of them for sale on Ebay that were converted for 10M only, so the seller said. Interesting. If you get a chance go ahead and grab that old Sears Roadtalker in and see if it comes back to life.

As a follow-up on the Sears Roadtalker and other Sears CB radios, I wanted to post a few mod's I found for the radios from the two books "CB Tricks of the Trade" and "CB Tricks II", a couple of older books I've recently been reading through.

Sears CB Radio Mod's Modifications Adjustments

Sears Model CM6000LA
Modulation---Cut D501

Sears Model CM6000LC
Modulation---Cut D-7

Sears 23785A
Modulation---Cut loose Q-7

Sears RoadTalker 934-38260700
Modulation on AM---Cut out 9303
AM power adjust---RT-01
SSB power adjust---RT-04
Peak out on AM---T401, T402, T403, T404, T405, T407, T408
For clarifier slide---Find black wire from the clarifier control and cut it loose, then solder it to ground and IF can top. Now, take the green wire on clarifier control, cut it loose from the board, and place it on Pin 3 of I601 for eight volts regulated. Cut R-303, cut out R-04, short across R-302.

**********************************************************************************************************************
Here's a few other mod's I've copied from another site on the web. Like any of the mods found on the net, there are no guarantees and use at your own risk.

SEARS AM/SSB ROADTALKER BASE/MOBILE

SEARS ROADTALKER BASE/MOBILE

1)Open the radio and you will find a metal case around the pll chip.unsolder this. 2)Cut the trace around pin 9 and 8 . 4)Solder a 4.7k resistor from pin 8 to ground. 5)Install a 6 posistion/ double pole rotary swicth in the radio.then run wires (the red lines) from the switch posistions to the locations on the pc board. 6)Solder a 1n914 diode from pin 1 to pin 4 on the switch. 6)Solder a wire from pins 2A to 3A to 4A to 5A.

Adjust t302, the VCO,so that the radio will TX/RX on all the extra channels. HINT:USE A PLASTIC TUNING TOOL TO MAKE THIS ADJUSTMENT OR YOU WILL BREAK THE COIL!!

POSITION 1

Channel 1 to 40 is 26.485 to 26.925

POSITION 2

All the regular CB channels

POSITION 3

Channel 12 to 27 is 27.425 to 27.595

POSITION 4

Channel 1 to 40 is 27.605 to 28.045

POSITION 5 AND 6 will give regular CB Channels

CLARIFIER MODIFICATIONS

1)Find the green wire coming off the FINE TUNING control.Follow the wire to the pc board where it connects and unsolder it.
2)Find the RED wire behind the meter display and solder it to that location(there is 8VDC there)
3)Find the BLACK wire from the FINE TUNING control and unsolder it from the PCB.
4)Solder this wire to PC GROUND .
5)Find the PURPLE wire from the FINE TUNING control and unsolder that from the PC board.
6)Solder this wire to the point on the PC board where R303 and the cathode,the end with the band around it! , of D301.

This mod will give you about 3khz up/down off the "channel".
If you move the clarifier and the radio "drops out" you will need to JUMP d301 and put the purple wire back to where it was.

Turner Sears Mic Wiring Hook-Up
Includes but not limited to Expander 500, Road King 56

4-White
1-Shield & Red
2-N/C
5-Black
3-Blue

Yellow-N/C

Footnote Included in Data Sheet That Possibly May Be Relevant or Considerable---may or may not apply:*Also not that not shown are any of the Turner 4-wire mikes. In order to wire any of the Turner 4-wire mikes to any of the listed radios, use the wiring covered with the T-UG8 D04 information---but in most cases you may have to reverse the Black and Red wires. This also may apply to the Astatic TMD-107, Astatic TMD-107E, and Astatic 555 microphones. Use the RK-56 information to wire any Turner 6-wire mike up to the listed radios.

Here's an excellent straightforward wiring guide written by one of our Forum Mod's, very good for reference.

Mic Wiring 101
HOW TO WIRE ANY REGULAR OR POWER MIKE TO (ALMOST) ANY CB
by LordDragr » 11 May 2006 06:03 viewtopic.php?f=70&t=3143&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As always, I hope someone found something written here or in many of my other posts or threads either interesting or useful, hopfully even both. Write and let me know if it's been a help!

Foxhunter 351 NJ

EDIT: I added some additional mic's and a footnote included with another manual that just came in yesterday's mail. Also added a footnote on some Turner microphones, that may or may not apply. If by chance the information shown prior does not at first work, then consider the additional notes. This has all been hand copied from 2x booklets in Foxhunter 351 NJ's reference collection. Fairly common CB wiring guides that shops use. Good Luck!

Last edited by Foxhunter on Friday, 20 November 2009, 13:23 PM, edited 1 time in total.

update i got the mike i have wired right,it would dead key 3 watts with absolutely no modulation
am or ssb-----------and boy am i getting skip in here today,,,,,i think the mike is bad its as old as i am
oh well ill be happy when Sparky gets done with my 449

Well good and hoped something in this thread might have helped you there grandpaclint---and anyone else too. Hmm it's a great idea to have a second mic to verify whether it's the mic or the radio, just in case. There's nothing like switching mic's and finding out that was all that was wrong! Good news to you, the radio and the wallet! Hope you get that thing on the air, I like mine very much----keepers!

Already, this thread is #12 on Google for "Sears Roadtalker", and #2 for Google Images for "Sears Roadtalker 40"----which is not bad at all considering how short of time it's been up. It's also great for the CBRT Forum, to place high in returned search results. Always. It'd be great for anyone with anything to say share or add on these fine radios, to please add it to the thread!

Thank you, and I'm glad you remember too. But I'm sadly afraid "short term" memory is an epidemic in this nation. I appreciate your acknowledgment and making a point to say it Granpaclint. I certainly will remember and NEVER forget what those miserable people have done, continue to do, and will try to do to "top it" THE NEXT TIME. How many can say the same ? Hopefully many, but in the news it showing the US policy and lawmakers already planning to leave Afghanistan to recover, is a bad sign of lessons unlearned.

The two points of light in the image are known as the "Tribute in Light" and are the ghostly images of generally where the two towers once stood, a mass grave site. I missed this year's Tribute (they were supposed to cancel it, but then decided not to), my last visit was 2008's and went up there into downtown Manhattan between 1AM and 4:30AM, spent the whole night walking around lower Manhattan. At the base of the two Towers of Light, it is an amazing sight to look up and see as they rise up to the low-lying cloud tops. If you are there in-person, when you look up you can see hundreds upon hundreds of "white" birds endlessly circling within the lights. I believe it was mainly due to insects attracted to the twin beams, but to the observer it almost looks like souls circling within. People that have seen it can understand entirely what I mean by what I just described. In the image shown here as my forum signature, the lights appear nearly the same height as the original towers. So far, as of today, 1,964 people have viewed the picture one way or another from my online photo album. If anyone's ever gone up to the top of one of the Twin Towers, the surrounding bridges and buildings---including other skyscrapers---looked tiny by comparison, like little toys. I'd liken the view from the top to actually being in an aircraft over the city, it was hard to believe you were in or on a man made building.

Due to quality content
this is one of those videos where after you push play
you should pause it for 30 seconds to let it load
then push play and resume watching uninterruptedPre-9/11 NYC Night Aerial View

I picked up a slantface 934.38110700 it has tx and rx but no audio. No sound coming through in either tx,rx or PA.
I verified Tx and Rx with Freq. counter and a secondary radio.
Does anyone have a link to a schematic? I am figuring the audio amp may be bad.

I have The Sears Roadtalker 40 Model 934 38270700 , a long time ago it was converted to the upper channels, but they used the SWR/RF/CAL switch. I want to add 2 switches which I kow how to do, BUT I need to know what wires goes back on that switch? for it to work properly, Any one still have one of these ole wheel chucks, and maybe take a close up pic inside where the wires connect to. Thanks

I've also heard good things about Sears, JC Penney, and Wards radios and I do have to admit that old Wards radios ROCK! For stock radios they are loud and get excellent reports. They definitely compare to a current production Cobra 29 LTD Classic and some people say they are louder than a peaked Galaxy.

I've been out of cb radios for over 30 years and for some reason I recently got the bug to get back into it. I found a 3827 from an older gentleman who had it modded years ago. It has two toggles in the back, one a two way and the other a 3 way switch. He lost the paper in which the instructions were on and couldn't remember how to work the switches. Is this a standard way of adding channels or does it depend on who does the modding? I would just like to be able to set it normal anyway as I don't really understand extra channels.....

Second question is about something I learned in this thread. I found out that this unit is both ac and dc. Of course it didn't come with an ac cord, only the dc cigarette lighter cord. This probably is a dumb question, but could I use the dc cord as ac if I add a plug? The old gentleman didn't realize it was also ac as he told me I needed to get a converter if I wanted to make this into a base, (which I do).

welcome Ericthose old sears were pretty good radios, i have a similar one myself. as for what freq's. just hook it up and go scouting for contacts.. whats your 20 anyway, i like seeing that info listed cause ya never know who your neighbor is or who you might be talkin skip with.

The best thing you could do, to quickly give you immediate help in understanding the varous switch settings, would be to purchase and use a separate frequency counter. It would give you the exact frequency of the channels you're flipping through, helping you navigate much more easily. Not critical, but it would be a big help, and you'd spend more time talking and less time trying to figure out where you are in the bandspread.

Like I'd wrote and others have also mentioned, the "special sears cb power cord" problem is a real pain with these radios because the plugs are so unique. I just finally bought a DC plug, finally found one. I'd guess that although the AC plug and the DC plugs look the same with the same shaped end, I'd think and worry that one (like say the AC plug) end would only connect (internally) at the top pins----while possibly the same exact shaped DC cord might be hot inside only on the lower pins. So if you were to adapt the DC cord for AC power instead, then when plugged in AC, the AC might go straight into the 12V inputs and fry something. I'd seen or read where someone had loaned a Cobra 2000GTL to a friend, to get help get him interested in radio, and the friend went and forced the AC cord into the DC socket and it completely killed the radio as a result. Next time I get my Roadtalker out, I'll check to see which holes are hot on each of the power cords both AC & DC.

It's neat that they included base station capability by providing a built-in AC power supply within a beefy rugged mobile radio. A few other brute "mobile" radio manufacturers did the same during that time period. The Courier Gladiator and Courier Classic similarly come to mind first. I wish manufacturers would still provide that option today, for some mobile radio models.

Thanks fellas. The gentleman I purchased it from called me today and found the freq. sheet. He also said he may have a AC cord for it so I'm pretty geeked. If he can't find it, I may buy his old Sears Base Station that he has and it has a cord that may fit.

Bought a 3 dollar mobile antenna at a thrift shop and the radio sure sounds good and loud. Best 23 bucks I've spent in a long while.

Some guy in NC has a seemingly endless supply of Sears Roatalkers that he sells on ebay periodically. He has the slant faced mobiles, also - several Ive seen still in original plastic wrap. I owned one of those years ago - man it would walk the dog. One day Ill get another to compliment the base I just bought - hopefully.

i have one of the SEARS SILVERTONE radio's.
it is a 12 channel unit(you buy the crystals)
all the guts are HUGE components and everything is Motorola.
this radio got compliments (which was abnormal back then).
i had put a power mic on it,
someday i hope to hook it up, just to see if it still sounds the same.

I have one now and also had one back in the early 80s, both are/ were slant face 40ch SSB mobile / base combo's.

The one I have now that I have had for about one year I got of E-bay it was one of those new old stock, new in the box, pristine never used one's.

My radio tech tweaked n peaked it, I have a new also never used still in the box Turn M+3B on it that matches my original setup.

What I like and dis like about the Sear SSB , I absolutely love the receive, in two way's, 1st because is hears real well ( post tweaking ) , 2nd because you can flip a "tone" switch to mellow out the harshness of the audio from the speaker, and you can turn the squelch knob and s-l-o-w-l-y fade out the hash just a tiny bit at a time to fine tune the squelch.

Unlike my RCI 2950 with has a squelch that is more like a light switch, it is either on or off , same thing with my Kenwood 430S.

I also like the look of the slant face road talker, and the rubber ringed knobs.

What I don't like about it is the audio quality that You would hear if I were talking to You on it, Example: When my radio tech called me up on my regular 27.38500 LSB hangout he sounded like a pig with a head cold, but when he called me up on my RCI he sounded like a high quality ham radio and mic would sound, none of that narrow piggy porky sound.

Of the five / SSB's I have I think the old school 148GTL is a better all around talking "CB" SB radio ( Kenwood excluded )

I bought my sears roadtalker ssb brand new in box at ebay for only $154 plus $22 shipping worth every cents

I have another one in my truck and its been around long time with no trouble it just talks and talks
could someone please tell be where I could get or buy a ad that sears had when this radio first came out??

also I bought on ebay that will go with my radio this mic is Sears Amplified Desk Microphone CB Radio w Box
I got really good report with both of them soo happy with the match

I cheek old sears books in the 1970s and there is noo info about this fine radio

let me know

here is some pictures of my NEW radio for ebay

not sure why I cant post pictures
if you want to see my radio let me know

I still have mine here that I need the wiring for the swr switch, whoever did the channel mod used the swr cal ref switch for it, I would like to get it back to stock with a rotary switch and have the swr working again, if someone can open theirs and maybe draw a sketch on what wires go where, Would be great?

I recently bought one at a flea market. The one I got is AM only model but a little different. Audio needs some help, sound like side band out of tune. Any suggestions? Here's a link for the model I have.

I've got two Roadtalkers... an AM/SSB mobile and the "slant front" AM version (still in the box) that resembles the SSB model pictured at the beginning of this thread. They are excellent radios with fine sensitivity and selectivity. I'd rate them up there with radios like the Galaxy DX949 any day.

Had a chance to buy one of those Roadtalker bases with the slider knobs at a recent hamfest for $20... but I first thought it was some kind of mixer board when eyeing it from across the room It was long gone when I came back for a closer look.

I need The Sears Roadtalker 40 Model 934 38270700 (AM/SSB 13.8VDC and 120VAC) parts radio, I need the pll section and the channel selector anyone got one of these and would like to get rid of it for parts Email me at rschaniel@twcnyDOTrrDOTcom and let me know price, OR I will sell mine for 45.00. I had to spell out dot, it wouldn't let me do url's/